They crossed paths before achieving fame, but it was their roles as troubled lovers in the film Gilda that sparked a love affair between Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford.
Their on-screen chemistry was undeniable, but their off-screen relationship proved to be even more enduring.
Rita Hayworth, dubbed “Hollywood's Love Goddess,” gained fame through the sizzling film-noir Gilda.
However, Glenn Ford, who had previously worked with Rita in The Lady in Question in 1940, referred to her as the love of his life.
Despite their deep affection for one another, the pair never married due to being involved with other people.
According to Peter Ford, Glenn's only child and the author of Glenn Ford: A Life, this did not hinder their relationship, which spanned many decades.
Born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn, Rita Hayworth tied the knot five times, including marriages with Prince Ali Salman Aga Khan, d–k Haymes, and Orson Welles.
Orson Welles, captivated by her beauty, had even expressed his desire to marry her before they had even met.
Glenn Ford, born in Canada but raised in Santa Monica, had four wives, including Eleanor Powell and Kathryn Hays.
He was also rumored to have been involved with a multitude of famous women from Hollywood's Golden Age, such as Gene Tierney, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, and Marilyn Monroe.
Peter Ford admits that his father was a “bad boy” who often became entangled with his co-stars.
While this is not something he is proud of, it is a reality of his father's life.
Despite Glenn's numerous affairs, his love for Rita never wavered, and he consistently showed his devotion in bold ways.
In 1960, he purchased the lot adjacent to Rita's Beverly Hills home, which she may have tipped him off about.
Soon after Glenn finished building his dream house, Rita filed for divorce from her husband and reunited with Glenn.
He even installed a gate connecting their properties, allowing her easy access to his home.
They spent a great deal of time together, with Rita publicly referring to Glenn as “the best neighbor a woman ever had” in 1972.
It comes as no surprise that Gilda remained Glenn's favorite film despite his extensive career.
According to Peter, Glenn cherished any film featuring Rita Hayworth.
In a 1990 documentary about Rita, Glenn confessed, “I loved her very deeply at that time.”
His love for Rita never diminished, even after she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 1981.
Adrienne McLean, author of Being Rita Hayworth: Labor, Identity, and Hollywood Stardom, reveals that Glenn provided support during the later stages of Rita's illness.
When Rita passed away in 1987 at the age of 68, Glenn served as one of her pallbearers.
“He was very protective of her,” says McLean.
“They were allies.”
As Rita declared to Glenn in Gilda, “There's never been anybody but you and me.”
– Frank DeCaro, with reporting by Katie Bruno
